Is death the
end?

by Ezekiel Bozikis

Recently, I attended the funeral of a young man. Death is
always tragic, but we seem to feel it more when the deceased
is someone young, Why is this? Isn't it because we are thus
made acutely aware of our own mortality? We expect elderly
people to die (distressing, though, their deaths may be to
their loved ones) - and we expect to die old ourselves. But,
this isn't guaranteed. We could die in fifty years time, or
we could die tomorrow. We don't know when we will die, but
we do know that we will die!

"It is appointed for men to die once, but after
this the judgement... " (Heb. 9:27).

The question is, "Are we ready to
die?"

If you knew that you were going to die within the hour,
how would you react? I suspect most of us would feel scared
and horrified. Why? Isn't it because we consider this life
on earth to be all that we have and thus we make detailed
long-term plans for our lives and, in some cases, our
children's lives? Isn't it because we are afraid of the
unknown, and death is the great unknown?

At this young man's funeral many people were asking: Why
him? He was a good man, a good Christian, young - he had
everything to look forward to. Why did he die?

We may never know, in this life, the full reason why God
took this man. But many of us believe that, because this
young man believed in Christ and was filled with such
goodness, this evil world was not worthy of him; and God has
called him home to Paradise.

See the difference when you look at it through spiritual
eyes? Non-Christians can see only this life. You live
seventy or so years (if you're lucky) and then you die. The
End.

But as Christians, we know that life continues after
"death". Our soul does not die with our body. This present
existence on earth is only a tiny fraction of our whole
existence. While we may live for a few years on this earth,
we will be living for ever in either heaven or hell.

Isn't it amazing that we spend so much time and effort
planning our education, careers, holidays, etc., and little,
if any, time in planning where we will spending
eternity?

It is like a young person, when they've got their first
job, wanting to buy a car. Their parents say no. Save your
money and buy a house, they say. They can see the long-term
scenario. They know that money spent on a car is wasted
money; but a house and property is something that will have
value indefinitely, But the child can only see his
short-term need - a vehicle so that he can be mobile and go
wherever he wants.

We are like that child - seeing only the short-term, We
have to quickly reprioritise things, or else we may be in
for a rude shock.

This Pascha let us consider the loving work that God has
done for us, in sending His beloved son Jesus Christ to die
on the cross for our sins, If we believe in Jesus, and trust
Him, and turn away from our sins, then death is no more to
be feared - it is simply a doorway to a better life.

To quote the Apostle Paul in more detail: "And as it is
appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement,
so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To
those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time,
apart from sin, for salvation. "(Heb. 9:27, 28 ).

And St. John Chrysostom confirms: "Let no one fear death
for the Saviour's death has liberated us from it.... O
Death, where is sin, your poisonous sting? 0 Hades, where is
your infamous victory? Christ is risen, and you are utterly
defeated!... Christ is risen, and no one will remain dead in
the graves!"

from Voice in the wildernessa publication of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of
Australia
Parish and Community of St George, South Brisbane